February 9, 2001 13:42: A man who was stabbed in the head by robbers in Thornton Heath may owe his life to the fact that he was blind drunk.

The 29-year-old was so intoxicated he barely realised the extent of his injuries when he was attacked by five teenagers three weeks ago.

Police believe his lack of shock or reaction to his wounds could have stopped him from serious bleeding.

Instead the man calmly walked into cab office and told the controller he had been in a fight.

DC Peter Thompson at South Norwood CID, said: "The fact that he was so drunk could well have saved him. When you are stabbed your body's reaction is either fight or flight and once the adrenaline gets going the heart makes the blood pump faster, making you bleed more.

"He was so drunk he didn't think there was anything to worry about so his heart rate stayed the same.

"At first the victim was reluctant to talk to officers because when they first questioned him he was still paralytic but he is co-operating fully now."

The attack happened on January 23 but the victim only agreed to proceed with an appeal to catch his attackers today.

He had been near the bus station on Thornton Road, between Colvin Road and Broughton Road, at 3.30am when a gang of five youths approached him demanding money.

When he refused one of them hit him over the head with a bottle and he was stabbed in the head and in his side.

He then got up and walked to Canterbury Cabs in London Road where he told a friend who worked there about his altercation.

The victim was rushed to Mayday Hospital where doctors, amazed at his calmness, stitched up shallow cuts to his head and a deep wound in his side.

All five suspects were about 17-years-old. Three were white and two were black.

Anyone with information should contact DC Jim Aspinall or PC Joe Camilleri at South Norwood CID on 020 8649 1236.